Walk in the Footsteps of the First Floridians

Dr. Jeff Moates will give a walking tour of Ferndale Preserve in Lake County, Florida. The tour will feature discussions of some of Florida's earliest inhabitants as well as later inhabitants of the Lake Apopka region. Dr. Moates will discuss the archaeology of Ferndale Preserve and demonstrate some of the ancient tools and technology used by the First Floridians. Finally, he will discuss the early history of the area and its settlement. The walking tour will meet at the Preserve parking lot and will take approximately an hour and a half. The topography is very hilly and sandy. Please wear appropriate foot gear.

Ferndale Preserve is located at 19220 County Road 455, on the western shore of Lake Apopka and just a few miles from Sugarloaf Mountain the highest point in peninsular Florida. This unique location gives the preserve a high point of 162' above sea level and a view of both Lake Apopka and on clear days the Orlando skyline.